Opinion: Will Navalny’s gamble backfire?

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny's decision to return to Russia was a gamble aimed at continuing his momentum, increasing his legitimacy, or provoking an overreaction from the Kremlin, says Honorary Professor Mark Galeotti (UCL School of Slavonic & East European Studies). For years, Alexei Navalny had been - barely - tolerated by a Kremlin that was willing to permit very limited opposition and criticism. When security officers tried to poison him last year, it reflected a distinct swing towards more ruthless authoritarianism. Back in Russia, and back in prison, Navalny likewise seems to have taken off the gloves. Until now, everyone was fair game for Navalny's investigations into official corruption - except for Vladimir Putin and his family. Yesterday, after Navalny had been sent to Moscow's notorious Matrosskaya Tishina prison until his next trial date in February, his team released their latest investigation. In a characteristically slick and entertaining video, almost two hours long, the corrupt schemes which allowed Putin to build himself 'the most expensive palace in the world' at Gelendzhik on the Black Sea coast are laid bare.